Monday, the Speech Therapist worked with Brenda first and I am happy to report that she stayed on the Passy Muir valve for 25 minutes. This is great improvement. However, she is not comfortable and that is the main reason they stop. The Occupational Therapist worked on her upper body today. Then she was placed into the stretch chair for 2.5 hours. Last, the Physical Therapist worked with her legs. I have observed that she has increased moving her body by herself more often than another point in time. She had visitors, one visitor on Saturday and MOnday evening. She really enjoyed the visits so it is encouraged![...]

Friday was a normal day with all therapists working with Brenda for about 35 minutes each. She has a fever so they are running a urine test and blood cultures to identify the issue. Saturday through Sunday is limited hospital activity. She is off the Ventilator during the day but back on at night. She welcomes visitors, but you are required to wear a yellow gown and gloves while in her room. They are available in her room.[...]

Friday was a normal day with all therapists working with Brenda for about 35 minutes each. She has a fever so they are running a urine test and blood cultures to identify the issue. Saturday through Sunday is limited hospital activity. She is off the Ventilator during the day but back on at night. She welcomes visitors, but you are required to wear a yellow gown and gloves while in her room. They are available in her room.[...]

Tuesday the speech and physical therapist worked with Brenda in the morning. The physical therapist did an assessment of the range of motion in her arms, she was able to do most of the request. Speech CAP'd her for 4 minutes, the purpose is to get her experience with breathing with the Passy Muir valve on. Occupational therapy did an assessment. Wednesday, Doctor Perry stopped by to review their plan for weaning Brenda off the Ventilator and their plan for therapy. He requested that they take a very aggressive approach with her. Occupational therapy work with Brenda's range of motion with both arms and then they placed her in the stretch chair for about 3 hours. The goal for the week is get her into a wheel chair and be able to travel to the Rehab room. Speech had the Passy Muir valve on for about 8 minutes, they did that twice yesterday. Respiratory Doctor stopped by and informed us that her lungs are improving but still have a long way to go. His plan to reduce her time on the Ventilator each day for as long as she can tolerate it. Thursday, the speech therapist had the Passy Muir valve on for 15 minutes while she worked with Brenda. The occupational therapist worked with her and she was in the stretch chair for 2 hours. Later, the Physical therapist had Brenda sitting by herself at the side of the bed for 15 minutes. She is having trouble wearing the pressure mask, we are really concerned because she does not understand the importance of it.[...]

Saturday was her first full day at Kindred. She was caped for about 3 minutes and spoke to John. This was a new environment for her and she spent the day adjusting. Sunday, Jack was present and it was uneventful. Monday, was evaluation day. The Respiratory, Occupational, Speech, Physical therapist, and  Wound team all did their evaluations. The Physical therapist will start slow and build up to about an 1.5 to possibly 2 hours a day of therapy. The wound team said the burns are healed and no sores. The Respiratory therapist informed us that they are going to be very aggressive in their approach. She will start using her body to extract secretions so then she can stop using the Ventilator. The speech therapist said Brenda has work to do but is at a good point. She is having trouble adjusting to the presser mask, it is very hot and itchy. Our schedule family coverage is as follows: Jack will be with Brenda Monday, Wednesday, Friday mornings and Tuesday, Thursday afternoons. John will be with Brenda Monday, Wednesday, and Friday Afternoons and Tuesday, Thursday Mornings. They will each cover a Saturday or Sunday. Chris will be our relief person.[...]

Saturday was her first full day at Kindred. She was caped for about 3 minutes and spoke to John. This was a new environment for her and she spent the day adjusting. Sunday, Jack was present and it was uneventful. Monday, was evaluation day. The Respiratory, Occupational, Speech, Physical therapist, and  Wound team all did their evaluations. The Physical therapist will start slow and build up to about an 1.5 to possibly 2 hours a day of therapy. The wound team said the burns are healed and no sores. The Respiratory therapist informed us that they are going to be very aggressive in their approach. She will start using her body to extract secretions so then she can stop using the Ventilator. The speech therapist said Brenda has work to do but is at a good point. She is having trouble adjusting to the presser mask, it is very hot and itchy. Our schedule family coverage is as follows: Jack will be with Brenda Monday, Wednesday, Friday mornings and Tuesday, Thursday afternoons. John will be with Brenda Monday, Wednesday, and Friday Afternoons and Tuesday, Thursday Mornings. They will each cover a Saturday or Sunday. Chris will be our relief person.[...]

Wednesday morning she did therapy, and in the afternoon the doctors removed another 1.5 liters from her right side. This delayed her discharge. Thursday, she had the pressure clear mask with a scul cap applied, she will need to wear this for 23 hours a day. At this time we are not sure the length of time she will need to wear the mask. She then sat in the strecth chair for the rest of the afternoon. Friday, she was in the stretch chair for two 4 hour sessions and in the afternoon she worked with the therapist. Late in the day she was discharged from Miami Valley Hospital and admitted to Kindred Hospital (707 S Edwin C Moses Blvd Dayton OH 45417 Room 2013 Pod A) that evening. They will wean her off the ventilator, cap her Trach so she can talk and focus on Rehab. She is looking forward to visitors.[...]

She stayed off the Ventilator until Monday night when sthe doctor ordered her back on the ventilator. They found fluid in her chest cavity, near her lungs on the left and right side. Tuesday, they drained 1.5 liters out of her right side and they fixed her leaking feeding tube. Early Wednesday morning they are scheduled remove the fluid on her left side. Monday and Tuesday she worked with Rehab, but the move to Miami Valley Rehab has been postponed. It was explained to us that the valley rehab it is 3 hours per session and this is 3 timesper day. Quite frankly she is not ready for that. Wednesday she will transfer to Kindred Hospital, it is located in front of the Old St. E. hospital.[...]

Brenda started out with a bang, Thursday afternoon it was reported that she had contracted MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteria) and we have not been told the type, but this requires us to wear a gown and gloves during visitation. Antibiotics is a possible course of action. By Saturday she was able to stay off the Ventilator for 72 hours! Her daily work with the Therapist continues. Friday they removed her Trach and installed a smaller fenestrated Trach which will make using the CAP to speak easier for Brenda.They also removed her catheter. At this time she only has a feeding tube. She is NOW on schedule to go to Miami Valley Rehab floor (ZONE A Fourth (4th) Floor) within the next 7 days, give or take a couple of days.[...]

The past two 2 days, Monday and Tuesday, Brenda worked very hard with the Therapist. One highlight was when she worked with the Speech therapist she was able to hold a spoon in her mouth as she tried to pull it out and she was able to swallow. Another success was the Respiratory therapists had her off the Ventilator each day for about 16 hours each day. The goal is Forty-eight hours straight without the ventilator. She is able to sit up at the side of bed longer each day and work on standing up. Coach John is happy with her progress, but we all know she has a long way to go and that this is the hardest phase of the healing process.[...]